“Uhhh…” the officiant froze in place.
All of us froze. We did not understand what had just happened. I looked over at my father, and he seemed as puzzled as I was. I shrugged and then turned my head to Christopher's mother. She was as astonished as the rest of us.
I turned around and also walked down the aisle. I tried to hurry down the long aisle as I held the ends of my dress, trying not to trip over it.
I opened the doors and looked around. There was no sight of him.
“Is he gone?” Roni asked as she came running to the back.
I tried to walk on further as I heard the sound of Roni’s high heels clicking on the ground as she also ran.
“TORI!” I turned around and saw my mother yelling for me
I waved her off and continued to run.
“CHRIS!” I called out, “CHRISTOPHER!”
I knew he wouldn’t have gotten that far. If he was running or walking, he should have still been somewhere. I gave up and stopped running. I bent over as I huffed and puffed in search of oxygen. Roni finally caught up and just stood next to me as she panted.
“I’m sorry…” she sighed as she rubbed my back to soothe me. “He’s still out there.” I whined, “I know he can’t be far.” “Then, what are you going to do when you find him? Carry him to the church? Force him to marry you? What is your plan when you find him?” she questioned me angrily.
I didn’t have a plan. I guess I just wanted to see him one last time. Maybe even ask him a few questions like why he left me or if he wanted to postpone to another time when he could be ready. It felt awkwardly left off.
“Let’s just go back,” Roni said in a softer voice as she grabbed my arm “No…” I cried as I pulled back from her. “Tori, Tori. It is unfortunate that it has happened, but there is no use running after him.” she changed to an angry tone as she tried harder to pull me, but I fought back.
She gave up and just stood next to me as I cried out my heart.
“Do… you know… how…it…feels?” I asked as I sobbed “How what feels?” “How… Mom and Dad… always…come…home…and ask… me when I am…getting married?” I continued to sob.
She shook her head. I wiped away my tears using the back of my hand, which caused all my makeup to smudge on my hand and most definitely on my face. I caught my breath after letting out the last few sobs and got myself together.
“Every day it is, Tori, when are you moving out? Tori, when are you finding a man? Tori, when is the wedding? Every single day!” I practically screamed at her“They were also hard on me” she simply shrugged. “Yeah, well, you eventually got married, and that’s something I always have to hear about.” I continued to cry. “Yeah, but it wasn’t easy, Tori. Dad was also always on my case. Whenever I did something, he always asked, ‘But where is the husband?’ and I would laugh it off because I had no time to argue with him.” she replied.
Our dad was always so crazy about the idea of his two daughters getting married. If he had a way in all this, we would have married us off by the age of 16 and not looked back. Obviously, the whole community and his family would have frowned upon him.
“So, let’s go back and let’s just go home. There is no point in chasing after him. When the time is right, the perfect man will come walking into your life and propose, and you will walk down the aisle, and he will be waiting for you, and he will not run away. Maybe it was not meant to be with Christopher.” she said in a calm tone once again and reached out for my hand.
I took it this time. I stopped fighting her. It was time I headed back and faced reality.
****
We reached my mother, standing there with her eyes puffed up from crying.
“I am so sorry, Tori.” she sighed as she opened her arms wide to hug me and comfort me. “I am really sorry this happened to you. Maybe you will be lucky next time, and the right one will come running to you, and you will fall in love, and we will prepare a beautiful wedding for you.”
She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and turned as we got ready to walk to the church.
“No, Mom, I can’t do this.” I shook my head as I tried my hardest not to walk. “Come on, dear. We just need to tell people that the wedding is off,” she spoke in a soft voice as she tried her hardest to pull me.“Nope, I can’t go in there. Do you know how embarrassing that is?”
She looked at me in shock. My mother was slow to get angry, but at that moment, she looked like she was going to give me a few slaps.
“Fine! I will go in!” Roni yelled, hoping it would at least help the situation.
She dreadfully walked towards the church door and opened it.
“What? I wasn’t going in there again. Everyone was going to stare at me and give me the pity looks.” I explained “Well, something unfortunate happened. You can’t blame them. People will obviously want to know if you’re okay.” she sighed.
Then, Roni came back outside with my father.
“So, the whole thing is over?” he questioned “Yes, the boy disappeared.” I replied, “Now, let’s go home before all of those nosy relatives come outside to pretend to feel sorry for me.”
I grabbed my mother’s hand and pulled her with me to the car park.
“Tori, are you just going to give up?” Dad questioned, sounding a little flabbergasted by the whole thing. “Dad, the whole thing is off. He left. Maybe another one will show up, or maybe not. Let’s just go home.” I sighed as I continued to angrily stomp my feet to the car.
I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
“Dad!” I yelled “Tori, don’t yell at your father!” My mother snapped back.
I peeped over and saw people slowly coming out of the church and heading toward us.
My parents finally reached the car, and we drove off. Past the crowd and the busy town.
“This is just embarrassing…” my father muttered under his breath.“Elijah…” My mother tried to stop him.
He continued to say a bunch of words under his breath as he held onto the steering wheel tighter.
“I mean… how hard was that?” he mumbled“Eli… it’s no one’s fault.” My mother stopped him again“It is hers…” he continued to mumble. “Eli…”“No, no. Let him say it!” I snapped from the backseat while Roni nudged me, trying to silence me.
He was quiet as he continued to drive through the busy streets.
“Dad, say it!” I urged. “You probably drove him away with your antics!” he replied angrily.
We reached home with awkward tension filling the car. Mom and Roni awkwardly sat in their seats, hoping the distance would suddenly shrink. I was not even gobsmacked by what my father had said. I was never his favourite child to begin with. I did not even flinch at what he said compared to my mother, who reached out to him and held his thigh while Roni gasped. Once we reached home, I quickly climbed out of the car and headed straight for my bedroom. I ripped myself out of the wedding dress, kicked off my high heels, pulled out the uncomfortable and sharp pins in my hair and grabbed a wet cloth and wiped away the makeup on my face roughly. “Knock, knock” Roni knocked on the door and then twisted the handle. She had already jumped out of the bridesmaid dress and high heels too, but she still had her hair all tied up and makeup on. “Tori, I am really sorry.” she sighed as she walked up to me.I just kept quiet. I was not crying or upset or anything. I was just quiet. “I am really, r
I stood at their bedroom door, completely astonished at what I had just heard from the other side of the door. The house telephone began to ring again. “Elijah, I thought we agreed that we would not talk about this again.” My mother said, sounding so disappointed and upset with her husband. As I continued to stand there, completely taken aback, their bedroom swung wide open. It was my mother coming out of the bedroom, looking furious and upset. She had tears rolling down her cheeks from anger. “Can you not hear the phone ringing?” she asked me as soon as she saw me standing at the door. She headed straight for the phone and answered it while my father remained in the bedroom, sitting on the bed. “How long have you been standing there?” he hissed at me “Long enough to know I should have been married ages ago, or us suddenly being broke or Mom getting sick once again,” I replied, then walked away. “...No, no. She is not here.” Mom replied to whoever she was talking with on the p
He screamed while staring right at me. And then the naked girl who was on top riding him also screamed her lungs out. I stayed at the window, also screaming from shock, hurt and confusion. “WHAT THE HELL, TORI!” Christopher shouted at me as he tried to yank the naked girl off him. She had nothing to fear. Her whole body was out there in full display. She didn’t care that I had seen her and also seen Chris. “I am coming inside!” I yelled through the other side of the window. I tried to lunge myself using the wall, but in the process, something stabbed my leg. I looked down to find thorns, probably from the flowers, sticking out from my leg. “I am coming inside!” I shouted again through the window, still determined to get through. “What the hell is wrong with you, Tori?” he asked as he tried to wrap the bottom half of his body with the bedsheets. “I am coming inside.” I tried to lunge myself again, but that time, the wall brushed my arm.His little guest in the bed was just lyin
After that weird hug with him, I turned around and saw Roni stomping her feet towards the exit. “Don’t worry, it’s not you. We all just had a hard day.” My dad whispered to this Russo guy. I slowly walked after Roni towards the exit. She seemed so upset about something else other than my mother suddenly being in hospital. “What’s wrong?” I questioned as soon as I reached her. She had a few tears rolling down her cheeks as she stared right at me. She then rested her head on my shoulder and continued to cry. “What’s going on, Roni? Speak to me.” I asked her again as I rubbed her back to soothe her. That day had been a long day of emotions, and so much was going on. Everyone had their fair share of being heartbroken in some way. “I don’t even know why I am crying. And gosh, I got makeup all over your clothes,” she laughed when she finally stepped back and tried to wipe her eyes. I looked over at my clothes and saw a smudge of whatever makeup she had on all over my clothes, and he
“So, we had discussed the brain tumour for a while.” The neurosurgeon started speaking. Roni inhaled sharply and slowly walked out of the room. I decided to follow her. She was by the wall outside the room, inhaling and exhaling sharply as she clutched onto her chest. A nurse came out of nowhere with a wheelchair. Roni sat on it as she continued to wheeze for air. Another nurse came with an oxygen tank, placed the mask on her face and instructed her to breathe. “Do you know if she has any history of respiratory problems?” another nurse asked me. A lot was going on. I was more focused on making sure my sister was going to make it rather than hearing whatever these nurses were saying to me. “Ma’am, do you know if your sister has any respiratory problems?” she asked me again.“No- no. I don’t think so. Not that I know of.” I shook my head, my eyes still focused on Roni, who struggled to breathe. I walked up to her, and she gripped my hand tightly. “Roni, breathe. Everything will be
Irritatedly, I had to leave and go and look for Roni. My father had interrupted my conversation with the Russo guy. My only way of getting to know him better. I raced down the hospital hallways and through the same door Roni exited from earlier. I was back in the parking lot, but a different one from where we parked the cars or maybe a different side of it because it did not look familiar. “Roni!” I called out, “RONI!” I looked from corner to corner and did not see her. I continued to call out her name as I walked from each car, looking for her. I ran without checking my surroundings until I heard a loud honk. I jumped up and turned around, and saw a car right next to me. “WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING!” the female driver yelled angrily as she swerved around me to continue driving. I quickly rushed out of the way and found Roni sitting on the benches by the end of the parking lot, overlooking the rest of the city. “Show is over, Roni.” I sighed as I approached her. She turned arou
He began to massage me gently, which made me feel some type of way. I found myself slowly tilting my head back and closing my eyes to get a better feel. “You see, you can trust me,” he said in a low voice. Who was this Russo guy? And what was he doing to me? He took his hand lower and lower, and his hand circled my upper chest before he removed his hand away quickly at the sound of the door opening. He cleared his throat and walked away. I quickly glanced at the door and saw Roni walking in. “Russo, give us privacy.” she hissed the minute her eyes landed on him.He nodded and walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him. “Don’t tell me you were talking to him,” she whispered “Talking to who?” I asked“You know who exactly I am talking about.” She answered in an irritated tone. I ignored her and continued to hold onto Mom’s delicate and fragile hands. “Tori, Russo is a dangerous man.” she continued to whisper“You think I am with him. Just because I was abandoned at m
Russo took the biggest step away from me while my father walked into the house. “Alessandro?” my father asked in shock“Eli.” Alessandro? They shook hands, and then my father turned to look at me. He looked confused or shocked. His facial expression was quite hard to read. “Is Roni here?” he asked.Well, good morning to you, too.“No, I haven’t seen her since I left the hospital yesterday. I think she went back home.” I answeredHe simply nodded and then turned to face the Russo guy, who had apparently been named Alessandro. “What are you doing here?” he asked him.“I came in to check on you. I wanted to know how you were doing,” he answered. “Well, how long have you been here?” My father questioned “Not too long. I think I have been here for, like, what, 5 to 10 minutes. Not too long. I just came and then Tori here offered me a glass of water.” he replied. I just stood there in my skimpy pyjamas, basically naked, watching these two elderly men exchanging in conversation. “To
My eyes widened when Joey finished speaking and then continued to speak. Bash and Roni came back into the kitchen, holding a few more dishes that were used during the dinner. I now could not take my eyes off them after hearing what Joey had just said. I tried to imagine them dating each other or at least having anything else more than a friendship. “Joey, that’s enough,” Bash said sounding irritated when he found her still adding a few more drops of vodka in her cup. “Could I have another sip, please,” Roni said as she reached out for the cup. I watched in surprise as Roni drank some of the weird combination in Joey’s cup and did not even cringe. It was as if she regularly did this. “Are you sure you don’t want even a sip?” Joey offered me the cup as she handed it to me. I shrugged and slowly walked closer to her and took the cup. I took a sip and surprisingly it did not taste weird. “So, how does it taste?” Bash asked before I could even swallow it. “It tastes good,” I answer
“Uhm…” I froze. “Oh please don’t act shocked or anything.” she laughed. She pulled out more dishwashing liquid and handed it to me. “No, I am genuinely confused.” I sighed“Why though? Weren’t the two of you sticking your tongues down each other’s throats or something?” she asked as she laughed a bit.“When?” I questioned“When you went to the bathroom,” she replied “Oh no! We did not. He only escorted me and then we returned to the dining room.” I responded. “Really? So, he was not lying?” she asked “Yeah, we did not kiss or anything like that,” I answered “Dammit! Now your sister owes me like fifty bucks or probably even more.” she groaned. “Anyway, let’s go back to the kitchen. We will continue this conversation later.” We walked back to the kitchen with me feeling so confused. So that is what the two of them were probably betting on. We walked back to the kitchen to find Roni and Bash giggling about something. “Are we interrupting something?” Jo asked as she started lau
We all froze. Roni and I slowly turned to look at our father wondering how he was going to answer that question. He looked at Roni and then at me and then gave a slight nod as if we were supposed to know what it meant. “Uhm… my better half.” he started to speak with his voice shaking a bit. It definitely still pained him. I knew it did. We were all hurt by her sudden death but I felt like everything was rushed over and we did not get enough time to feel the pain or the grief. “My better half passed away not too long ago.” my father finally replied as I saw one tear drop escape his eye and trickle down his cheek. He casually wiped it away and then smiled weakly after that. “I am so sorry. I apologize for asking.” Joey gasped. “I am sorry for your loss,” Bash said. “I am sorry.” Katie also finally spoke. She also looked genuinely shocked about what she had just heard. So, I wondered how close Katie and my father were if my father could not even break the news to her about losin
He had long reached the dining room while I was still stood by the bathroom door trying to understand what he meant by that. I eventually found my way back to the dining room with everyone’s eyes on me - including Bash. “Are you okay?” Katie asked “Yep, I am good.” I replied and quickly grabbed a plate to serve myself. Katie and my father were still flirting with each other and making all these weird noises while I continued to stare at Bash trying to read his face. “Give me my fifty.” Jo whispered to Roni who sighed. “Fifty for what?” I questioned “None of your business.” Roni answered quickly. “I will give it to you later.” She answered as she turned her head to Joey. I served myself some food and then worriedly and slowly walked to my seat next to Bash. He pulled out the chair for me and patted it gently signalling me to sit down. “Thank you.” I whispered“Yep, you owe me like another fifty.” Jo laughed while looking at Roni. “Most probably.” Roni replied.“What’s going o
“Bash, did you call Joey?” Katie questioned“Yeah!” he replied. “Okay, well, come to the table.” she replied. He reached out his hand and helped pull up Roni from the couch. “Thank you.” she smiled. He then turned to me and reached out his hands to help me stand up. I hesitatedly reached out and touched his warm and soft hands before being lunged out of the couch as well. So, was he kind? Then, why did he look at me like that when I simply asked about his career? Meanwhile, I do not think Roni liked the sudden bond and connection I had with her friend Bash, which made me really wonder if they were just friends. But I told myself that Katie’s other son was going to come down the stairs and I will bond with him -even if he was a 10 year old spoilt kid who only dreams of video games. We all hurried for seats at the dining table and Bash hurried around the table and pulled out a chair. “For you, my lady.” he said while looking at Roni. “Thank you.” she said with a smile as she sat
“I have missed you!” she screamed. “Tori, come and take this.” my father said as he handed me the ice cream. Of course, I was the one stuck to looking like the servant because everyone else was having a little family and friendship reunion while I did not know anyone.“Hey hey!” Katie walked out of the house wearing an apron. I really wondered if all that chunky huge building was actually their house or was she renting it out or did they only stay in a portion of it. “Come right this way,” she said with a smile spread widely on her face. “We brought this.” I said with zero expressions as I handed the ice cream container to her before entering the house. “Oh, sweetie! You did not have to.” she smiled but still accepted it. I walked into the house, unsure if I should take off my sandals or leave them by the door. So, I did my famous strategy of pretending to fidget with them by the door until someone sees my struggle and then tells me what to do. “Oh no, you can keep them on,” B
For some odd reason, I knew that there would be drama. I knew my father would not just accept a random dinner that was offered that same night. Unless the people came marching into the house with the food. He was too much of a person that wanted to keep to himself. “What drama?” I asked as I closed her bedroom door. “We really should get ready for this thing or your father will snap our heads off.” she laughed after she noticed my excitement. “Just tell me quickly and then I will go and get dressed.” I pressed. “No, got get changed first and then we will talk. I am home for a few more nights so we will still get to chat,” she said. I had no choice other than to going off to my room to get ready. I looked through my closet, hunting for what to wear, realising that I had not done my laundry in a while, so there was either a bunch of clothes that smelt like sweat or had stains on them. But eventually, I was able to find a pair of black jeans and a plain white T-shirt. I quickly hu
“I guess we could come around. Do you still live in the same place?” my father questioned“Yep, down the Avery street,” she answered“Okay, we will be there around 6 or 7,” he said. She walked away, excitedly while I was wondering what my father agreed to. “Let’s go and get my watch and then we can go and get some desserts,” he said. “Wait, we can’t seriously be going for an impromptu dinner,” I asked as I widened my eyes. “Of course we are. Someone has offered to host us. You think I will say no to grilled chicken?” We walked back to the jewellery shop, and Tim handed my father the watch while he pulled out his wallet and paid him. “Hope to see you again, Eli,” Tim said“Likewise.” my father responded “And the same for you too, Tori,” he added on. We headed to the supermarket and I wanted to blend myself into one of those random aisles while my father was finishing off the shopping and wondering if he should get a simple chocolate cake or ice cream and custard or if he should
After washing up the dishes, I went to the bathroom to get showered and dressed. My father did the same as well and then he came out of his room, smelling fresh and looking good. “You ready?” he asked me“Let me just spray myself one more time.” I said as I hurried back to my room to practically drown myself in my perfume. I walked out of my room to find my father fidgeting with his watch and squinting at it. “Ugh!” he groaned “What’s wrong?” I asked“I think the time on this thing is wrong and I can’t even see it. It’s so tiny.” he complained “Let me have a look at it.” I said as he pulled off the straps and handed it to me. I took a few minutes to look at his watch and then I handed it back to him. “I think it’s dead. It’s frozen. I think it got stuck on a time from like last night or yesterday.” I replied “Really?” he asked in disbelief“Yea.” I shrugged “It has been working for a long time and this is when it decides to die?” he practically wailed “Yea Dad, these things